TARIFF PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 15

TARIFF PROBLEM

ASSOCIATION'S FIRST ['.'. - MEETING '; OFFICERS ELECTED The first general meeting of the Tariff Association was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. L. A. Edwards presiding over a small attendance. . The chairman remarked in . opening the meeting that the attendance could, not be taken as an indication that thei-S was not a great deal of enthusiasm behind the association. .Referring to the objects of the organisation, he said-it was often said that Australia, 'was-a case where high protection had been a tremendous success, and he quoted figures to show the situation in the Commonwealth, where the years 1922 to 1926 had revealed an adverse balance of £9,700,000. "We must not be led away," said Mr. Edwards, "by political utterances. It is all very well: to boost, but the boosting must be done on facts, and the facts distinctly showthat New Zealand to-day is not in a good, healthy position. I-do-not say there is any cause for alarm. It simply means that our costs of production have got to come down, because the' prices of our goods in the overseas markets are down. If we non r econoinically raise the cost of production by increases in the tariff which are not justified we are going to be placed in a parlous position." Reference to official- Australian statistics, he said, would show: definitely that Australia was not in such a fine position as one might be led to believe. That was borne out, too, by recent financial reports in connection with loan transactions inthe Commonwealth. . . The chairman referred to the apathy that was apparent in securing subscript tions and the apparent lack of enthusiasm in the objects of the association. He stressed the importance of the sittings of the Tariff Commission, and'" said that if anything, unfair was done in the matter of protection the country would be in for trouble. Everybody should do his utmost to keep New Zealand on the right track. Officers of the association were elected as follows:—Vice-presidents, Messrs.-; J. B. Harcourt, A. de B. Brandon, and S. Kirkcaldie; committee) Messrs. J. B. Harkuess, Hart, Hugh Jenkins, L. A. Edwards, T. C. Brash, A. Cornelius, and G. Winder. The appointment of tha , president is subject to approval. ,'- -'-